Content access device geolocation verification

ABSTRACT

In various embodiments, a method of content access device geolocation verification includes determining local geolocation information, identifying proximate content access devices that are associated with a content delivery network provider, and transmitting the information to a content delivery network provider device that takes an action if a location of a content access device mismatches a recorded location. In some embodiments, a content delivery network provider device receives local geolocation information and data regarding identified proximate content access devices from an electronic device, analyzes the information to determine whether a location of a content access device mismatches a recorded location, and, if the location of the content access device mismatches the recorded location, takes an action.

BACKGROUND

Many content delivery networks use content access devices. For example,cable and/or satellite content delivery networks use content accessdevices such as set top boxes, digital video recorders, network digitalvideo recorders, and so on. These content access devices allow users torequest, receive, watch, and/or otherwise access content deliverynetwork assets such as television programs, movies, on demand content,and/or other content.

In many situations, content delivery network providers intend forcontent access devices to be used at a limited number of locations. Forexample, the arrangement between a user and a content delivery networkprovider may specify that a content access device is to only be used ata user's home.

However, users may attempt to use content access devices at locationsother than the ones at which the content delivery network providerintends. This may deprive the content delivery network provider ofrevenue in cases where the user was supposed to pay for the ability touse the content access device at the unauthorized location. In somecases, this may also violate content agreements, such as in a situationwhere the user uses the content access device in a location to accesstelevision content that is not authorized to be accessed from thelocation.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to geolocation verification of contentaccess devices. An electronic device determines its location, identifiesproximate content access devices associated with a content deliverynetwork provider, and transmits the location and identified proximatecontent access devices to a content delivery network provider device.The device receives and analyzes the information. If the devicedetermines a content access device is in a location that mismatches itsrecorded location, the content delivery network provider may take one ormore different actions.

In various embodiments, a method of content access device geolocationverification includes determining local geolocation information using aprocessing unit, identifying proximate content access devices that areassociated with a content delivery network provider using the processingunit, and transmitting the local geolocation information and dataregarding the identified proximate content access devices that areassociated with the content delivery network provider to a contentdelivery network provider device using the processing unit wherein thecontent delivery network provider device takes an action if a locationof a content access device mismatches a recorded location.

In some examples, determining the local geolocation information includesdetermining a geolocation information component coupled to theprocessing unit is inactive and providing reduced service until thegeolocation information component is activated. In some implementationsof such examples, determining the local geolocation information furtherincludes providing output indicating that the reduced service will beprovided until the geolocation information component is activated.

In various examples, identifying the proximate content access devicesthat are associated with the content delivery network provider includescommunicating with at least one of the proximate content access devices.In other examples, identifying the proximate content access devices thatare associated with the content delivery network provider includesreceiving a broadcast transmitted by at least one of the proximatecontent access devices on a local network.

In numerous examples, determining the local geolocation informationincludes determining the local geolocation information using theprocessing unit and at least one of a global positioning systemcomponent coupled to the processing unit, a WiFi component coupled tothe processing unit, or a Bluetooth component coupled to the processingunit.

In various examples, the content access device is one of the identifiedproximate content access devices. In other examples, the content accessdevice is not one of the identified proximate content access devices.

In some embodiments, a content delivery network provider device includesa non-transitory storage medium that stores instructions, acommunication device, and a processing unit communicably coupled to thecommunication device. The processing unit executes the instructions toreceive local geolocation information and data regarding identifiedproximate content access devices that are associated with a contentdelivery network provider of the content delivery network providerdevice via the communication device from an application executing on anelectronic device, analyze the local geolocation information and thedata to determine whether a location of a content access devicemismatches a recorded location, and, if the location of the contentaccess device mismatches the recorded location, take an action.

In various examples, the action includes changing content available tothe content access device. In some cases, the changed contentcorresponds to the location of the content access device. The changedcontent may be a degraded content. In various implementations, theprocessing unit transmits a message via the communication deviceindicating for a user of the content access device to respond in orderto restore the degraded content. The degraded content may be aprogressive degradation. In other examples, the action includesdisabling the content access device.

In numerous embodiments, a method of content access device geolocationverification includes recording a location of a content access deviceassociated with a content delivery network provider using a contentdelivery network provider device, receiving local geolocationinformation and data regarding identified proximate content accessdevices that are associated with the content delivery network providerat the content delivery network provider device from an applicationexecuting on an electronic device, and, if a current location of thecontent access device is determined to mismatch the recorded locationbased on analyzing the local geolocation information and the data,taking an action using the content delivery network provider device.

In various examples, the local geolocation information includes anelectronic device location determined by the electronic device. In someexamples, the method further includes determining an electronic devicelocation based on the received local geolocation information. In suchexamples, determining the electronic device location based on thereceived local geolocation information includes identifying a knownlocation of a local area network specified in the received localgeolocation information.

In numerous examples, the data does not indicate that the content accessdevice was identified at an electronic device location and the recordedlocation matches the electronic device location. In other examples, thedata indicates that the content access device was identified at anelectronic device location and the recorded location does not match theelectronic device location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements.

FIG. 1 depicts an example content access device geolocation verificationsystem.

FIG. 2 depicts an example block diagram illustrating components that maybe used to implement the content access device geolocation verificationsystem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A depicts a first example of geolocation verification of a contentaccess device at an authorized location.

FIG. 3B depicts a second example of geolocation verification of acontent access device at an unauthorized location.

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart illustrating a first example method ofcontent access device geolocation verification. This first examplemethod may be performed by the systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

FIG. 5 depicts a flow chart illustrating a second example method ofcontent access device geolocation verification. This second examplemethod may be performed by the systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood thatthe following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments toone preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to coveralternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included withinthe spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by theappended claims.

The description that follows includes sample systems, methods,apparatuses, and computer program products that embody various elementsof the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that thedescribed disclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in additionto those described herein.

The following disclosure relates to content access device geolocationverification. An electronic device (or an app or other applicationexecuting thereon) may determine its location and identify one or morecontent access devices associated with a content delivery networkprovider that are at the location. The electronic device may transmitthis information to a content delivery network provider device. Thedevice may receive and analyze the information to determine whether acontent access device is in a location that mismatches its recordedlocation. If there is a mismatch, the content delivery network providermay take an action, such as changing content available to the contentaccess device, providing one or more notifications, billing a user foruse of the content access device in an unauthorized location, degradingservice of the content access device, disabling the content accessdevice, and so on.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1-5. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thedetailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is forexplanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

FIG. 1 depicts an example content access device geolocation verificationsystem 100. The system 100 includes a content access device 101 and anelectronic device 103. The content access device 101 may be any devicethat is usable to access content via a content delivery network, such asa cable, satellite, or other content delivery network. As illustrated,the content access device 101 may be a set top box, a digital videorecorder, or other device operable to present content on a contentpresentation device 102. However, in various examples, the contentaccess device 101 may itself include components for presenting theaccessed content and the content presentation device 102 may be omitted.The electronic device 103 may be any device such as a tablet, smartphone, laptop, mobile device, wearable device, or other computing devicethat executes an app, application, or other set of instructions thatperforms a method of content access device geolocation verification.

The electronic device 103 may determine local geolocation information,identify proximate content access devices that are associated with acontent delivery network provider, and transmit the local geolocationinformation regarding the identified proximate content access devicesthat are associated with the content delivery network provider to acontent delivery network provider device (such as the content providerdevice 260 of FIG. 2). The electronic device 103 may perform theseoperations as part of executing the app, application, or other set ofinstructions, whether actively, as a background process, and so on.Accordingly, the content delivery network provider device or otherdevice associated with the content delivery network provider may take anaction if a location of a content access device mismatches a recordedlocation for the content access device. Such an action may includechanging content available to a content access device, providing one ormore notifications, billing a user for use of a content access device inan unauthorized location, degrading service of a content access device,disabling a content access device, requiring a user to update theregistered use location for the content access device, and so on.

In this way, a content delivery network provider may verify the locationin which a content access device 101 is being used. In some cases, thelocation may be determined based on a network address of the contentaccess device 101 either instead of and/or in addition to the contentaccess device geolocation verification procedure discussed above.However, network addresses may be faked and/or may be the same inmultiple locations. As such, the content access device geolocationverification procedure discussed above may determine content accessdevice 101 locations more accurately than analyzing a network address ofthe content access device 101.

This content access device geolocation verification procedure mayimprove operation of the content access device 101 and/or the electronicdevice 103 in that neither the content access device 101 nor theelectronic device 103 perform more burdensome operations forauthenticating a content access device 101 location. Further, greaterfunctionality and/or content access may be available to the contentaccess device 101 due to the greater certainty regarding the location ofthe content access device 101.

The app, application, or other set of instructions executed by theelectronic device 103 may be provided by a content delivery networkprovider and/or otherwise usable to interact with the content deliverynetwork of such a provider, such as to access content assets through thecontent delivery network provider, manage an account with the contentdelivery network provider, and so on.

For example, the app may be used as part of initially setting up thecontent access device 101 for use with the content delivery network. Theelectronic device 103 may execute a configuration process that detectsthe content access device 101, detects the local geolocationinformation, and transmits data regarding both to the content networkprovider, such as a media access control address for the content accessdevice 101 and the local geolocation information (such as globalpositioning system coordinates, a WiFi address, a network address, aBluetooth address, other global or location coordinates, and so on).

By way of another example, the app may detect and transmit informationregarding local geolocation information and any detected proximatecontent access devices 101 at various times. In some cases, the app mayrun as a background process and periodically, continuously, and/or uponthe occurrence of a trigger condition determine and transmit suchinformation. In other cases, the app may detect and transmit suchinformation whenever the app is launched or opened, used for accessingcontent or other services, and so on.

The electronic device 103 may include one or more components that may beused to determine the local geolocation information. Such components mayinclude global positioning system components, Bluetooth components, WiFicomponents, and so on. In some examples, those components may be capableof being deactivated, disabled, and/or otherwise rendered unusable fordetermining location. However, as the app may be used to provideservices, the electronic device 103 may provide reduced and/or noservices until those components are activated.

For example, the app may determine that location components aredisabled, provide a notification or other output that one or moreprovided services will not be provided until the location components areenabled, and provide reduced and/or no services. When the locationcomponents are enabled, the app may switch to providing the fullservices, as well as determine and transmit the information regardinglocation and detected content access devices 101.

The electronic device 103 and/or the app may identify proximate contentaccess devices 101 by communicating with any content access devices 101within communication range. For example, the electronic device 103 maypair with the content access device 101 in order to communicate and/orotherwise interact. Based on such pairing and/or communication, theelectronic device 103 may determine that the content access device 101is proximate.

The electronic device 103 may also communicate with content accessdevices 101 without pairing. For example, the electronic device 103 maytransmit inquiries and receive responses, either directly and/orindirectly via a local or other network, such as a local wirelessnetwork provided via a wireless access point 104. In such an example,the electronic device 103 may identify proximate content access devices101 based on responses received to transmitted inquiries.

In other cases, the content access device 101 may transmit a broadcast,such as a service set identifier, via the local network. The electronicdevice 103 may receive such broadcasts and identify proximate contentaccess devices 101 based thereon.

Content access device 101 location may be determined when the electronicdevice 103 detects the content access device 101 at a location. However,content access device 101 location may also be determined when theelectronic device 103 fails to detect the content access device 101 at alocation where the content access device 101 should be.

For example, the content access device 101 may be registered to be usedat a user's home. However, the user may have taken the content accessdevice 101 to another location for use. The user may then use theelectronic device 103 at the user's home. The electronic device 103 maydetermine and transmit the location of the electronic device 103. As thecontent access device 101 is not present to be detected, the transmittedinformation would not include information regarding the content accessdevice 101. Due to the absence of the information regarding the contentaccess device 101, the content delivery network provider may assume thatthe content access device 101 may be in use at a location other than therecorded location.

In some cases of such an example, the content access device 101 may beat the recorded location but may not have been detected by theelectronic device 103. For example, the content access device 101 may bepowered off and the electronic device 103 may not be able to detect it.However, if the content access device 101 is in use at an unauthorizedlocation, the content delivery network provider may be able to detectthat the content access device 101 is still connected to the contentdelivery network. Thus, the content delivery network provider may beable to assume that the content access device 101 is being used at anunauthorized location if the content access device 101 is connected tothe content delivery network and was not detected at the recordedlocation by the electronic device 103.

Similarly to the above, the content delivery network provider device(such as the content provider device 260 of FIG. 2) may receive localgeolocation information and data regarding identified proximate contentaccess devices 101 that are associated with the content delivery networkprovider from the electronic device 103. The content delivery networkprovider device may analyze the local geolocation information and thedata to determine whether a location of a content access device 101mismatches a recorded location (and/or record such a location for thecontent access device 101). If the location of the content access device101 mismatches the recorded location, the content delivery networkprovider device and/or other device associated with the content deliverynetwork provider may take one or more actions.

For example, the action may include changing content available to thecontent access device 101. In such an example, the changed content maycorrespond to the location of the content access device 101, such aswhere authorization for certain programming is dependent on location andcontent authorized for the recorded location is disabled in favor ofcontent authorized for the current location of the content accessdevice.

In other cases of such an example, the content may be a degradedcontent, which may be a progressive degradation. For example, thebandwidth at which the content access device 101 receives content may beprogressively slowed. By way of another example, national channels maybe disabled whereas local channels remain available, or vice versa. Byway of still another example, live television may remain availablewhereas recorded content is disabled, or vice versa.

In yet another example, channels and/or various types of content may beprogressively disabled until the user updates the registered location ofthe content access device 101, returns the content access device 101 tothe authorized location, and/or otherwise appropriately corrects thesituation. In such a situation, the content access device 101 may beentirely disabled if the user does not respond. In other cases, thecontent access device 101 may be immediately disabled without anyprogressive and/or otherwise degradation or reduction of content.

In some cases, the content delivery network provider device may transmita message indicating that content is being degraded and for a user ofthe content access device to respond in order to restore the degradedcontent. For example, the user may call in to the content deliverynetwork provider to explain the unauthorized location use, alter theuser's account, and so on.

In various examples, the content delivery network provider device (suchas the content provider device 260 of FIG. 2) may record a location of acontent access device 101 associated with the content delivery networkprovider and receive local geolocation information regarding identifiedproximate content access devices that are associated with the contentdelivery network provider from the app. If a current location of acontent access device 101 is determined to mismatch the recordedlocation based on analyzing the local geolocation information and thedata, the content delivery network provider device may take an action.Such an action may be one or more of the actions described above.

The local geolocation information may include an electronic devicelocation determined by the electronic device 103. However, it isunderstood that this is an example. In other implementations, the localgeolocation information may include data that may be used to determinethe electronic device location. In such an example, the content deliverynetwork provider device may determine the electronic device locationbased on the received geolocation information. In some cases, thecontent delivery network provider device may determine the electronicdevice location by identifying a known location of a local area networkspecified in the received local geolocation information.

In some examples, the data received by the content delivery networkprovider device does not indicate that the content access device 101 wasidentified at an electronic device location and the recorded locationmatches the electronic device location. As such, the content deliverynetwork provider device may assume by negative implication that amismatch has occurred. In other examples, the data received by thecontent delivery network provider device indicates that the contentaccess device 101 was identified at an electronic device location andthe recorded location does not match the electronic device location. Assuch, the content delivery network provider device may directly detectthat a mismatch has occurred.

In various implementations, the above techniques may be combined withother techniques for content access device geolocation verification. Forexample, the content delivery network provider device may detect thatthe content access device 101 has a network address that indicates thatit is being used at a location other than the recorded location. Thecontent delivery network provider device may then require a user to usethe app on the electronic device 103 proximate to the content accessdevice 101 at the recorded location in order to prove that the contentaccess device 101 is being used at an authorized location. If the userdoes not comply, the content delivery network provider may degrade thecontent available to the content access device 101 and/or otherwisesimilarly respond.

FIG. 2 depicts an example block diagram illustrating components that maybe used to implement the content access device geolocation verificationsystem 100 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system 100 mayinclude the content access device 101 and the electronic device 103. Aspreviously described, the system 100 may also include the contentprovider device 260 (or a content delivery network provider device). Thecontent access device 101 may be connected to the content providerdevice 260 via one or more content delivery network connection media 212(such as one or more satellite, cable, fiber, Internet, or othercommunication connections), the Internet 211 and/or other networks suchas a local network 213, the electronic device 103, and so on. Theelectronic device 103 may also be connected to the content providerdevice 260, such as via the Internet 211 and/or other network.

The electronic device 103 may include one or more processing units 218,one or more non-transitory storage media 219 (which may take the formof, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium; optical storagemedium; magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory; random accessmemory; erasable programmable memory; flash memory; and so on) thatstores instructions, one or more communication devices 220, one or moreinput/output components 221, one or more geolocation information and/orother location components 223 (such as one or more global positioningsystem components or devices, Bluetooth components or devices, WiFicomponents or devices, and/or the like), and so on. Similarly, thecontent access device 101 may include one or more processing units 214,one or more non-transitory storage media 215 that stores instructions,one or more communication devices 216, one or more input/outputcomponents 217, and/or the like. Likewise, the content provider device260 may include one or more processing units 224, one or morenon-transitory storage media 225 that stores instructions, one or morecommunication devices 226, and/or the like.

Although the content access device 101, electronic device 103, andcontent provider device 260 are illustrated and described as includingparticular components that perform particular functions, it isunderstood that these are examples. In various implementations, thecontent access device 101, electronic device 103, and content providerdevice 260 and/or the system 100 may include various arrangements of thesame, similar, and/or different components communicably or otherwisecoupled in various manners without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3A depicts a first example of geolocation verification of a contentaccess device 101 at an authorized location. As shown, the contentaccess device 101 is at a “Location 1” along with an electronic device103. The electronic device 103 receives global positioning informationvia a GPS communication 380 from a global positioning system satellite371 via a global positioning system network 372. The electronic device103 also identifies the content access device 101 by communicating 381with the content access device 101 via a local network 213. Theelectronic device 103 then transmits the global positioning informationand the identity of the content access device 101 to a content provider260 in a communication 382 transmitted over the Internet 211.

The content provider 260 receives the communication 382 at a LocationDatabase 373 where it is determined that “Location 1” is an authorizedlocation for the content access device 101. Therefore, a communication383 is directed from Location Database 373 to the content access device101 through a content server 374 and one or more content deliverynetwork connection media 212, providing content to the content accessdevice 101.

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the content access device 101 and theelectronic device are then transported to a “Location 2” that is notauthorized for the content access device 101. Similar to the exampleshown in FIG. 3A, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3B, the electronicdevice 103 receives the global positioning information via the GPScommunication 380 from a global positioning system satellite 371,identifies the content access device 101 by communicating 381 with thecontent access device 101, and transmits the global positioninginformation and the identity of the content access device 101 to thecontent provider 260.

However, when the content provider 260 receives the communication 382 ata Location Database 373, it is determined that “Location 2” is not anauthorized location for the content access device 101. Therefore, acommunication 384 is directed from Location Database 373 to the contentaccess device 101 through an Alert Module 375 before the content server374 and one or more content delivery network connection media 212. TheAlert Module 375 directs the content server 374 to provide a restrictedform of content due to the unauthorized location and a notificationregarding the unauthorized use.

Although FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a particular configuration andparticular communication flows, it is understood that these areexamples. Various other configurations may be used with the same,similar, and/or different communication flows without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

For example, FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrated and described as having theelectronic device 103 communicate 382 the global positioning informationand the identity of the content access device 101 to the contentprovider 260. However, in other examples, the content access device 101may receive the global positioning information from the electronicdevice 103 and may communicate the global positioning information andthe content access device 101 identity to the content provider 260directly. For example, the content access device 101 may communicate theglobal positioning information and the content access device 101identity to the content provider 260 via the content delivery networkconnection media 212.

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart illustrating a first example method 400 ofcontent access device geolocation verification. This first examplemethod 400 may be performed by the systems 100 of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

The flow begins at 401 where the device operates. The flow proceeds to402 where the device launches an app or application and/or otherwiseexecutes software instructions. Launching may include opening the app,resuming execution of the app, continuing execution of the app,switching to the app, and so on. The app may be an app provided by acontent delivery network provider and/or is otherwise usable to interactwith the content delivery network of such a provider. For example, theapp may be an app usable to access content assets through the contentdelivery network provider, manage an account with the content deliverynetwork provider, and so on. The flow may then proceed to 403.

At 403, the device determines whether or not one or more components thatmay be used to determine local geolocation information are active. Ifso, the flow may proceed to 404. Otherwise, the flow may proceed to 408.

At 404, after the device determines that the location component isactive, the device provides one or more services via the app. Theservices may be presentation of content such as linear broadcast, ondemand, recorded, and so on of assets such as television, movies, andthe like. The services may also be presentation of social mediaapplications, content searches, account administration or configuration,and/or any other kind of service.

The flow may then proceed to 405 where the device checks whether or notthe device can detect any content access devices. The device may checkfor content access devices that are associated with the same contentdelivery network provider that is associated with the app. In someexamples, the content access devices at the location where the device islocated, content access devices proximate to the device, and so on maypair with the device in order for various actions to be performed andthe device may determine the presence of the content access devicesbased on the pairing. In other examples, the content access devices mayrespond to inquiries transmitted by the device (such as over Ethernet,WiFi, Bluetooth, and so on) and the device may determine the presence ofthe content access devices based on responses. In still other examples,the content access devices may broadcast service set identifiers and/orother identifiers over a local network (such as a WiFi network, Ethernetnetwork, Bluetooth network, and so on) and the device may determine thepresence of the content access devices based on received identifiersthat have been broadcast.

Next, the flow may proceed to 406 where the device transmits the contentaccess devices that have been detected along with a determined locationand/or other local geolocation information that can be used to determinethe location of the device and/or content access devices. For example,the device may determine its location using a global positioning systemdevice, Bluetooth device, WiFi device (such as where a particularwireless network access point has a known location), and/or other deviceor combination thereof. The device may transmit information regardingthe detected content access devices and the determined location to acomputing device associated with the content delivery network providerthat is associated with the app and/or the content access devices. Sucha content delivery network provider may take various actions based onthe transmitted information.

The flow may then proceed to 407 where the device determines whether ornot to exit the app. If not, the flow may return to 404 where the devicecontinues to provide the services. Otherwise, the flow may proceed to410 where the device quits, leaves, and/or otherwise switches away fromthe app.

At 408, after the device determines that the location component is notactive and/or is otherwise disabled or inactive, the device provides areduced version of the one or more services via the app. For example,content may be presented at a lower bandwidth or quality, less contentmay be available for presentation, only a subset of options may beselectable, and/or any other manner in which the services may be reducedmay be used to provide the reduced version of the services.

The flow then proceeds to 409 where the device determines whether or notto leave the app. Leaving the app may include closing the app, exitingthe app, ceasing execution of the app, not currently executing the app,switching away from the app, and so on. If so, the flow proceeds to 410where the device leaves the app. Otherwise, the flow returns to 408where the device continues to provide the reduced version of the one ormore services via the app.

At 410, after the device determines to exit the app, the device leavesthe app. The flow then returns to 401 where the device continues tooperate.

Although the example method 400 is illustrated and described asincluding particular operations performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that this is an example. In various implementations, variousorders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may beperformed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, 406-407 illustrate and describe the device checking andreporting content access devices and location while the device providesservices. However, it is understood that this is an example. In variousimplementations, the device may check and report at various times,continuously, in response to trigger events such as app launch, atintervals running as a background process, and so on.

By way of another example, 403-410 illustrate and describe the deviceproviding reduced services if the components that may be used todetermine local geolocation information are inactive and/or areotherwise disabled or unavailable. However, it is understood that thisis an example. In various implementations, the device may prompt a userthat reduced services will be provided and that full services wouldinstead be provided if the user activated the components. In suchimplementations, the device may then provide the full services if theuser activates the components.

FIG. 5 depicts a flow chart illustrating a second example method 500 ofcontent access device geolocation verification. This second examplemethod 500 may be performed by the systems 100 of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

The flow begins at 501 where the content provider device operates. Thecontent provider device may be a headend or one or more other contentprovider devices, such as a video on demand server, a content storageserver, and so on. The flow proceeds to 502 where the content providerdevice provides content. The content may be linear content, nonlinearcontent, television programs, movies, video on demand content, and/orany other content assets. The content device may provide the content bybroadcasting, transmitting, and/or otherwise arranging for contentaccess devices to receive the content.

Next, the flow may proceed to 503 where the content provider devicedetermines whether or not a location of content access device presenceor absence is received from an app executing on a device. The locationmay be a location of content access device presence when one or morecontent access devices are identified as detected at that location. Thelocation may be a location of content access device absence when one ormore content access devices are not identified as detected at thatlocation but would be expected to be detected at the location (e.g.,supporting a negative inference that non-present expected content accessdevices have been moved). If so, the flow proceeds to 504. Otherwise,the flow returns to 502 where the content provider device continues toprovide content.

At 504, after the location of content access device presence or absenceis received, the content provider device updates a database or otherdata storage for the received location(s). The flow then proceeds to 505where the content provider device determines whether the location is asexpected. The location may be as expected if no content access devicesnot associated with the location in the database were detected aspresent at the location and no content access devices associated withthe location in the database were not detected as present at thelocation. However, the location may not be as expected if the presenceor absence of a content access device at the location does not matchrecords in the database. If not, the flow proceeds to 506. Otherwise,the flow returns to 502 where the content provider device continues toprovide content.

At 506, after the content provider device determines that the locationis not as expected, the content provider device takes one or moreactions. Such actions may include changing content available to acontent access device, providing one or more notifications, billing auser for use of a content access device in an unauthorized location,degrading service of a content access device, disabling a content accessdevice, requiring a user to update the registered use location for thecontent access device, and so on. The flow may then return to 501 wherethe content provider device continues to operate.

Although the example method 500 is illustrated and described asincluding particular operations performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that this is an example. In various implementations, variousorders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may beperformed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, the method 500 illustrates and describes the same contentprovider device providing content as verifying locations. However, invarious implementations, each of these functions may be performed by oneor more different content provider devices, whether singly or inconcert. Various content delivery network provider configurations arepossible and contemplated without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

By way of another example, the method 500 illustrates and describes thecontent provider device as verifying locations. However, in variousimplementations, the content provider device may also receive locationsas part of a database configuration process where the content providerdevice receives a location or geolocation information and detectedcontent access devices in order to register the content access devicewith the location.

In still another example, the method 500 illustrates and describes thecontent provider device receiving the location. However, in variousimplementations, the content provider device may receive various kindsof local geolocation information that may be used to determine thelocation rather than indicating the determined location. Such localgeolocation information may be global positioning system information,Bluetooth network information, WiFi network information, and/or anyother such information that may be used to determine the location and/ormay itself identify the location.

As described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures, thepresent disclosure relates to content access device geolocationverification. An electronic device (or an app or other applicationexecuting thereon) may determine its location and identify one or morecontent access devices associated with a content delivery networkprovider that are at the location. The electronic device may transmitthis information to a content delivery network provider device. Thedevice may receive and analyze the information to determine whether acontent access device is in a location that mismatches its recordedlocation. If there is a mismatch, the content delivery network providermay take an action, such as changing content available to the contentaccess device, providing one or more notifications, billing a user foruse of the content access device in an unauthorized location, degradingservice of the content access device, disabling the content accessdevice, and so on.

In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented assets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it isunderstood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methodsdisclosed are examples of sample approaches. In other embodiments, thespecific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearrangedwhile remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanyingmethod claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order,and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented.

The described disclosure may be provided as a computer program product,or software, that may include a non-transitory machine-readable mediumhaving stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program acomputer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a processaccording to the present disclosure. A non-transitory machine-readablemedium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form (e.g.,software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). The non-transitory machine-readable medium may take the formof, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppydiskette, video cassette, and so on); optical storage medium (e.g.,CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); randomaccess memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM andEEPROM); flash memory; and so on.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specificnomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the describedembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe specific details are not required in order to practice the describedembodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specificembodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustrationand description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit theembodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations arepossible in view of the above teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of content access device geolocationverification, comprising: determining location information, using aprocessing unit of an electronic device; receiving identifiers from agroup of content access devices, using the electronic device;identifying proximate content access devices that are associated with aprovider based on the identifiers, using the processing unit; andsignaling the provider to take an action if a location of a contentaccess device mismatches a recorded location, by transmitting thelocation information and data regarding the proximate content accessdevices from the electronic device to a provider device; wherein: thecontent access device is not one of the proximate content accessdevices.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the proximatecontent access devices that are associated with the provider comprisescommunicating with at least one of the proximate content access devices.3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the proximate contentaccess devices that are associated with the provider comprises receivinga broadcast transmitted by at least one of the proximate content accessdevices on a local network.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining the location information comprises determining the locationinformation using the processing unit and at least one of a globalpositioning system component coupled to the processing unit, a WiFicomponent coupled to the processing unit, or a Bluetooth componentcoupled to the processing unit.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein themethod is performed by an application executing on a mobile computingdevice.
 6. A method of content access device geolocation verification,comprising: determining location information, using a processing unit ofan electronic device; receiving identifiers from a group of contentaccess devices, using the electronic device; identifying proximatecontent access devices that are associated with a provider based on theidentifiers, using the processing unit; and signaling the provider totake an action if a location of a content access device mismatches arecorded location, by transmitting the location information and dataregarding the proximate content access devices from the electronicdevice to a provider device; wherein determining the locationinformation comprises: determining a geolocation information componentcoupled to the processing unit is inactive; and transmitting anotification to the provider device to provide reduced service withoutterminating service until the geolocation information component isactivated.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the locationinformation further comprises providing output indicating that thereduced service will be provided until the geolocation informationcomponent is activated.
 8. A content delivery network provider device,comprising: a non-transitory storage medium that stores instructions; acommunication device; and a processing unit, communicably coupled to thecommunication device, that executes the instructions to: receivelocation information and data regarding content access devices from anelectronic device that obtained identifiers by communicating with agroup of content access devices proximate to the electronic device;identify a content access device associated with the content deliverynetwork provider device; analyze the location information and the datato determine whether a location of the content access device mismatchesa recorded location; and if the location of the content access devicemismatches the recorded location, take an action; wherein: the actioncomprises degrading content available to the content access device afirst amount and then a second amount without terminating the content.9. The content delivery network provider device of claim 8, wherein theaction further comprises changing content available to the contentaccess device by making other content available to the content accessdevice.
 10. The content delivery network provider device of claim 9,wherein the other content corresponds to the location of the contentaccess device.
 11. The content delivery network provider device of claim9, wherein the action further comprises removing access to at least somepreviously accessible content.
 12. The content delivery network providerdevice of claim 8, wherein the processing unit transmits a message viathe communication device indicating for a user of the content accessdevice to respond in order to restore the content after degrading. 13.The content delivery network provider device of claim 8, wherein thecontent is degraded a third amount first amount.
 14. The contentdelivery network provider device of claim 8, wherein the actioncomprises transmitting a message to disable the content access device.15. A method of content access device geolocation verification,comprising: recording a location of a content access device associatedwith a provider, using a provider device; receiving location informationand data regarding content access devices from an electronic device thatobtained identifiers by communicating with a group of content accessdevices proximate to the electronic device; and if a current location ofthe content access device is determined to mismatch the recordedlocation based on the location information and the data, taking anaction, using the provider device; wherein: the content access device isnot one of the group of content access devices proximate to theelectronic device.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the locationinformation comprises a location of the electronic device determined bythe electronic device.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprisingdetermining a location of the electronic device based on the receivedlocation information.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein determiningthe location of the electronic device based on the received locationinformation comprises identifying a known location of a local areanetwork specified in the received location information.
 19. The methodof claim 15, wherein the data does not indicate that the content accessdevice is at a location of the electronic device and the recordedlocation matches the location of the electronic device.
 20. The methodof claim 15, wherein the data indicates that the content access deviceis at a location of the electronic device and the recorded location doesnot match the location of the electronic device.